How can I best deal with my depression without medication and health insurance?

Answer 1

I find that Meditation and Yoga help you cope with depression in an amazing way. Drinking alcohol is terrible for depression. Try to eat a healthy diet. Flax seed oil is really good for depression. Vitamin B
complex and B12 are also excellent for depression.
Over all we must go within and find the root cause of the emptiness Try to read books on alternative medicine, Ayurveda... Good luck.

Answer 2

St. John's Wort is an over-the-counter antidepressant, and you can even buy it at Walmart. Be cautious, though, as it doesn't work for everyone.

All cities have free mental health clinics or crisis centers. If you don't want to go with medication, I would suggest at least therapy. Keep in mind that in some cases medication is necessary to control the condition. These clinics are for people with no health insurance and no medicaid - they will usually treat you for about 3 months - giving you time to get some type of program that is free or sliding-scale going. If you are medicaid eligible, they will help you to apply.

Feel better :)

Answer 3

If you don't want to go on medication and you don't have health insurance I would suggest that you look in the phone book in your local area and see if you can find a local Community Mental Health clinic. If you have no insurance and cannot afford to pay them they will have you pay on a sliding scale on what you make or they may even let you go there for free if you are low income. They have a Therapist that you can talk to and a Psychiatrist that you can see who will prescribe medications to you for free if you can't afford it. You say that you don't want to go on medication. You don't have to but you should talk to a Therapist to help you get over the depression. If you can't find a local community mental health office look for an easter seals in your area because they do the same thing the same way. Good Luck

Answer 4

Depression changes the chemicals in the brain, so hense you feel ill, wake up early, are anxious, maybe parenoid, have no energy, worry about everything, cant go on. these chemicles that make you feel this way need to be changed and the only way to so this is to take medication such as an antidepressant. At first it may make you feel sick and unwell but the longer you persever with them you will start to feel better and depending how long you have been depressed will decide how long you stay on the tablets. for instance if you have been depressed for years you may need to take them as long as a year maybe longer. But see your GP they should help you, they may also ask you to have some councelling if necessary. You dont need health insurance. by the way I tried to treat mine without medication and it does not work only for the short term not the long term. So go to your GP if they are not sympathetic change them.

Answer 5

Many cities have mental health services available on a sliding scale in a clinic situation. Contact your local hospital for information. If you begin to feel suicidal, immediately go to the nearest emergency room or contact a suicide hotline..they will be able to help.

Depression is extremely hard to just deal with, especially if you have experienced it before and have used meds to help in the past. Journal a lot about your feelings...talk to people you trust and that you know care about you. Exercise can help a great deal, but is hard to do if you do not even feel like moving! Try to keep focused on things you know you have to do and get them done. Get rest, eat well. And don't be afraid ...you are not alone in this.

Answer 6

I'm kind of in the same boat. I was told to contact the Department of Health and Social Services in my state as well as apply for Medicaid for medical services. Right now, I'm seeing a therapist and taking medication, but it's being funded by the state. So there are ways to get help, and you can get the medication you need, if you want to take the meds. If not, which is your choice, definitely try the other suggestions.

Good luck.

Answer 7

get out and about with people. Usually when you are depressed you are in a rut. Take a walk maybe in a park, notice all the wonderful things there are in life. Make a list of things you can do for free like walk in the mall and look around, get a good movie, or go to a movie, read a good book, there are self help books that might give suggestions to help snap you out of it. Try to do things that will make you laugh a lot! good luck

Answer 8

This is a toughie... I have dealt with the same sort of thing, and it's a VERY tough battle. Sometimes it takes finding a friend or someone to talk to that can maybe think more objectively to your problem. Also, try different things... I keep a journal and write my thoughts when I feel like depression is getting the best of me. I also try to find things that I enjoy doing... and try to do at least one thing every day.

If you're in College, see if they offer counseling... it is usually free if you're a full-time student.

Answer 9

First of all, quit calling it "MY" depression. Dont label yourself. That will begin help.
There is a book out there called "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook", excellent for self help.
Depression literally is the body's lack of energy resource because of energy spent holding ANGER in. ANGER is the umbrella emotion over many other emotions.
Eat to restore energy. Exercise to get some endorphins into your brain to make you feel better.
Get the workbook. It will begin to relieve a sense of helplessness and powerlessness over your situation.
Look in the phonebook or call Psyche hospitals for names of places one can go for free sessions or low fees. The YWCA in my area has limited # of visits for as low as $5.00.
Again, the workbook and another book called something like "The Feeling Good Handbook" are an excellent start to self help. Good Luck.

Answer 10

A lot of people recommend St. John's Wart. It can be found at health food stores and has similar affect as prozac. As soon as possible it would be good to seek the help of a doctor though. Depression is a chemical imbalance and its affects can keep you from reaching your full potential and enjoying life.